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Montreal Canadiens head coach track suits. A thread.
First off we have Claude Ruel sporting this solid red ensemble, complete with the forgotten alternate logo, which served as inspiration for many other teams in the future.
First off we have Claude Ruel sporting this solid red ensemble, complete with the forgotten alternate logo, which served as inspiration for many other teams in the future.
Toe Blake was way too classy to wear track pants. Suit pants were in order, and a button up jacket that probably concealed a shirt and tie. Leather gloves and an ivy cap complete the look destined for the Hall of Fame. The cardigan was also a classic look.
Next we have Scotty Bowman switching primary colours to this electric blue number, emblazoned with a #Habs logo, and the famous Adidas arm-length three stripe.
Later we have Jacques Lemaire, unveiling what these track suits were missing thus far: a branded trucker hat. A solid pairing.
The track suit itself remains blue, but racing stripes are added across the chest.
The track suit itself remains blue, but racing stripes are added across the chest.
Jean Perron takes bleu-blanc-rouge quite literally with his tracksuit which sports all three colours in equal part camp. A classic design.
Pat Burns is next, making the bold choice of eliminating the zipper and going against tradition by choosing a pullover for this comfort détendu look. But make no mistake, he wasn’t going to take it easy on you.
A 3/4 zipper was enough for Jacques Demers, who added the additional utility of a hand-pouch, for those moments when you just stare at your players in disgust.
Jacques Martin chooses a track suit that is just as exuberant as he is... that is to say not at all. Navy blue, with a small crest, and a single dark red stripe runs down its sleeve. Thrilling.
Michel Therrien 1.0 was far more bold than 2.0. As jerseys became more form-fitting on players over time, as did track suits apparently as Therrien went from freely flowing in the wind to prepared for a dive in the St. Laurent.
“Beam me up, Scotty!” When Claude Julien returned to the #Habs he brought with him a Star Trek motif to the track suit. Deep Space 1909, indeed.
Time for the main event. Bernard “Boom Boom” Geoffrion wearing a track suit like he belongs on the Sopranos, complete with chest hair exposed and gold chain. Do not mess with this coach unless you want to be whacked.
We all know what Mario Tremblay was infamous for during his stint as head coach of the Canadiens: the largest possible #Habs logo on his track suit, of course.
Claude Ruel and his tracksuit just deked you out.
Straight out an Eaton’s catalogue, Dick Irvin is wearing the latest in brisk winter fashion, black slacks, leather gloves, tan leather jacket unbuttoned to expose a tie with a tight four-in-hand knot. Ivy cap for practice, as opposed to a fedora for games. Also, Jean Béliveau.
WHITE JACKET. https://twitter.com/pkstrk/status/1300277319312044032
Al MacNeil wore this spectacular baby blue weatherproof gear during the Montreal Voyageurs’ inaugural season of 1960-70. Thanks to the glory of this gear, 12 AHL players were recalled by the #Habs that year, and MacNeil himself coached them to a Stanley Cup a year later. Solid.
Toe Blake might the only Canadiens head coach to follow the home & away colour protocol for jerseys with his practice jacket.
Jacques Laperrière was around long enough as assistant coach to see a lot of these different looks. All spectacular of course.
An interesting variant of a #Habs trainer’s jacket, as worn by Toe Blake. It’s main feature is a lack of blue highlight, and with, what I fantasize is, American and Polish flags embroidered of the sleeve.
It may not be a Habs track suit, but a Team Canada one, but the mere fact that Scotty Bowman is wearing a track suit with "COACH" embroidered over the chest instantly puts it in this thread-of-fame.
After some digging, I managed to uncover Bob Berry’s practice outfits.
The first is a nice pleather jacket with logo, track pants, and a popping white cap with subdued logo.
The second is the money, showing Berry with his assistant Jacques’ in full matching get-ups. Majestic.
The first is a nice pleather jacket with logo, track pants, and a popping white cap with subdued logo.
The second is the money, showing Berry with his assistant Jacques’ in full matching get-ups. Majestic.
We don’t talk much about Cecil Hart, but he is an important part of #Habs lore.
He’s perhaps the first head coach in franchise history to have a dope leather button-up jacket for team practices.
He’s perhaps the first head coach in franchise history to have a dope leather button-up jacket for team practices.
Shout out to the great Eddy Palchak. As equipment manager for 31 years, he surely arranged for many of the great looks seen in this thread. https://twitter.com/NelsonHansen64/status/1309865927052230658
You think you’re scoring on Scotty Bowman in a tracksuit and Bob Gainey with an Afro? You are not.
“You seen that thread on #Habs tracksuits, Kirk?”
“I sure did, Claude.”
“Do you think this tracksuit makes the grade compared to the others’?”
“It’s about as good as our power play, Claude.”
“I sure did, Claude.”
“Do you think this tracksuit makes the grade compared to the others’?”
“It’s about as good as our power play, Claude.”
Waitaminute! What is going on here? It's the same photo of Al MacNeil, except one has a Montreal Voyageurs logo and the other has the Montreal Canadiens logo.... ONE OF THESE IMAGES IS A FAKE. 
Seen here modeling the tracksuit design of 2012 are Habs assistant coach Randy Cunneyworth and Habs head coach Randy Cunneyworth.
